KPD: Knox student tried to set teacher on fire

A Knox County student is accused of trying to set his teacher on fire.

According to Knoxville Police, officers were called to West High School around 10:45 Monday morning. Investigators said teacher Gabriela Penalba, 23, had turned her back to the class while teaching when a 15-year-old male student used a cigarette lighter to set her shirt and hair on fire.

Other students helped extinguish the fire, and Penalba was not burned. When she left the classroom, the student tried to dispose of the lighter by throwing it out a window.

The student tried to run from police, but was caught on a nearby greenway. He was charged in juvenile court with aggravated assault and evading arrest.